by R. Eric Thomas
Best friends Linus and Harrison are two queer black teens living in Baltimore that are both shook when Linus receives news that his family is moving to South Carolina. Harrison, in turn, plans an epic last day in honor of Linus and their friendship. Some things go wrong, some things go right, and I enjoyed being along for the ride and felt like I too was getting to know Baltimore. It has a very 80s Ferris Bueller's Day Off vibe, which is so interesting to see play out in a contemporary young adult novel. Both the third-person omniscient narration and the focus on black boy joy gave this story a really unique voice that I appreciated. As we get ready for back-to-school and fall routines, this is a great choice for an end-of-summer read to hold on a little longer to the magic of unstructured days.
See the Jones Library Antiracism Book List for recommended titles for all ages.